Why Tinubu Says the North Is Winning From His Economic Reforms

Tinubu Says North Is Biggest Beneficiary of His Reforms Amid Mixed Reactions President Bola Tinubu has declared that Northern Nigeria remains the biggest beneficiary of the economic reforms introduced by his administration, citing infrastructure, education, energy and trade initiatives as evidence of the region’s expected gains. The President made the assertion during the second edition of the Policy Roundtable organised by the All Progressives Congress Professionals Forum, where he was represented by the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda. Tinubu said his administration inherited serious economic challenges, including fuel subsidy distortions, multiple exchange-rate windows, weak revenue mobilisation, foreign exchange shortages and rising debt-service pressures when he assumed office in May 2023. According to the President, reforms introduced to address those challenges have begun producing improvements in key economic indicators. He said Nigeria’s external reserves had risen to about $52.7bn by August 2026, while consolidated non-oil revenue increased from approximately N13.63tn in 2023 to N16.4tn in the first two quarters of 2026. Tinubu also pointed to growth in the country’s trade position and a 4.43 per cent expansion in real Gross Domestic Product in the second quarter of 2026, alongside a reported easing of inflation. The President argued that the North would benefit significantly from planned infrastructure projects and improved regional trade. He specifically cited projects such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, major road corridors and proposed maritime and logistics connections that could link northern Nigeria more effectively with neighbouring countries, including Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and the Central African Republic. He described the North as the country’s “next business destination,” arguing that improved infrastructure would expand commercial opportunities across the region. Tinubu also listed the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, technical and vocational training programmes and the CREDICORP initiative among measures designed to translate economic reforms into tangible benefits for Nigerians. However, the President’s claim has generated mixed reactions from northern stakeholders. The Arewa Consultative Forum criticised the assertion, describing it as unrealistic and difficult to reconcile with the socio-economic challenges confronting many people across the region. The Middle Belt Forum also rejected the claim, arguing that policies such as fuel subsidy removal and the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas affect Nigerians across the country and should not be presented as benefits specifically targeted at the North. However, the Northern Christian Association offered a different assessment. Its chairman, Reverend John Hayab, acknowledged that the region had benefited from several government projects, including major road developments and investments in education and healthcare. Hayab nevertheless stressed that insecurity, hunger and poverty remained serious concerns that the government must continue to address. The debate comes as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with the APC defending the Tinubu administration’s reforms and opposition figures proposing alternative economic policies. Tinubu has urged Nigerians to choose between consolidating the reforms and reversing them, warning that returning to the old subsidy system could undermine the economic gains his administration says it has achieved.